The second concert of the Nicholas Chamber Orchestra in the newly extended Burrinja Cultural Centre in October featured Janis Cook playing the Concerto in F minor, BWV 1056, by J. S. Bach, with the deservedly famous slow movement in A flat - a piece of the "you'd know it if you heard it" variety. This gem was followed by the profound Four Serious Songs by Brahms interpreted on the bass trombone by Eric Klay with Janis at the piano.

After interval the audience was regaled by MSO Principal Tubist, Tim Buzbee, in the tour de force Three Furies for Solo Tuba by Grant, after which it was soothed with a sensitively nuanced encore of a Schubert Lied, on tuba(!) accompanied by Janis.

The programme opened with Gabrielli, antiphonally performed by the Monash Brass in the balconies, and finished with the delightful Mozart Symphony no. 28.

Creative and innovative, illuminating the many connections music brings, Cook & Co.'s first collaboration with the Monash Gallery of Art last July was no exception. The concept of the event, "Say it with Music", was inspired by the scene in Mary Poppins where Mary, Bert and the children jump into a chalk drawing and have a lovely adventure. The pictures, in this case, were the amazing photographs by Anton Bruehl listed below; each picture matched with an adventure in music delivered in inimitable Cook & Co. style by soprano: Theresa Borg, clarinetist/saxophonist: Jason Xanthoudakis, percussionist: Hugh Tidy and pianist: Janis Cook.

Photograph - Music

Zeigfield Follies - Say it with Music Irving Berlin medley

Artie Shaw - Clarinet Concerto by Artie Shaw

Mexican photos - Estrellita, Armando's Rumba

Carmen Miranda - A tribute to Carmen Miranda

Ballet Russe - Invitation to the Dance (Spectre de la Rose) by Weber

Cast of Carousel - medley from Carousel

Cast of Porgy and Bess - Encore: Dere's a Boat dat's Leavin' soon for New York